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What you need to know about Bradgate Park

"But when you use trade marks to demand payments from small businesses, it becomes a legal issue.

"Trade mark law is complex, but the rules are well-established.

"In this case, the rules do not support the trust’s actions."

So far the firm has worked without charge for Mr Foster, feeling "duty-bound" to correct what it calls a "misinterpretation" of the law.

Bradgate Park director Peter Tyldesley said: "I can confirm we have heard from Spearing Waite and their correspondence has been passed to our own legal advisors.

"You would not expect me to comment on the contents of such correspondence.

"The time for debating whether or not these things can be registered as trademarks is long past as they have been registered trademarks of the Bradgate Park Trust since 2001/2003."

Previously he said they had thought carefully about how to protect the park's intellectual property without upsetting businesses that benefited from the name or branding.

He said last week that they had approached a handful already and would be approaching more.

He said: "We are a charity and the trustees have a legal duty under the Charities Act to safeguard our assets.

"Why should people have the right to use our intellectual property free of charge? We do not let them walk off with our physical assets.

"This is not a smash and grab policy, and any money we get will ultimately go back into the park for the benefit of the people of Leicestershire."

He said the park cost around £1.5 million a year to run, with 40 per cent coming from parking charges, 35 per cent through retail and catering, and other money through rents, events and EU agriculture grants.